Alcohol and Drugs History Society

On Speed (book review)

Gregory Bowden, book review of Nicolas Rasmussen, On Speed: The Many Lives of Amphetamine, in Social History of Alcohol and Drugs 23/1 (Fall 2008): 91-93.  Builds on Grinspoon and Hedblom, The Speed Culture (1975).

US military and antidepressants

Time magazine featured as its cover story the use of antidepressants by the US military as official policy. Amphetamines had been used for similar reasons by Nazi Germany and the USA in World War II and by the American military in the Vietnam conflict. For more, see here.

Amphetamine history (book)

Nicolas Rasmussen, On Speed: The Many Lives of Amphetamine (New York University Press, 2008), including chapter, "Bootlegging, Beatniks and Benzedrine Benders." Amphetamine was created in 1929.

National study shows 10% of U.S. adults abuse drugs

More than 10 percent of U.S. adults abuse or become addicted to drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines at some point in their lives, but few get treatment, according to a study published on Monday.

MSNBC reports.

Crystal meth: Britain's deadliest drug problem?

The (London) Independent, 21 Nov. 2006, reports that British police worry that crystal meth, a form of methamphetamine, also known as "ice" and "Nazi crank," may rival crack cocaine as the most dangerous drug in the United Kingdom. At present, it is not common in Britain, but it is becoming popular among "clubbers," heroin users, and so-called "rough sleepers" who have no regular residence. It is estimated that in London 10% of gay men have used crystal meth. There also is fear about explosions and toxic waste produced by illegal laboratories. For more, see here.

Amphetamines in the clubhouse coffee

One baseball player has cooperated with authorities in a probe of drug use among players in the two Major Leagues of the US. Craig Harris reports for the Arizona Republic here. Harris reports that this player said:

• Until last year, major league clubhouses had coffee pots labeled "leaded" and "unleaded" for the players, indicating coffee with amphetamines and without. He did not specify how many.

• Latin players were a major source for the amphetamines within baseball.

• Amphetamines also came from players on California teams that could easily go into Mexico and get them.

Major League Baseball getting tough on steroid use

Major League Baseball will look into allegations of past steroid use by San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds and other players.

The CBC reports.

This season, the major leagues will test for amphetamines and institute tougher penalties for steroid use. Is it enough?

The Christian Science Monitor reports.

U.S. says Southeast Asia is facing amphetamine epidemic

A flood of amphetamine-type stimulants has fueled an epidemic in Southeast Asia, according to a U.S. government report. The China-Post reports.

Myanmar plans to eradicate production of opium poppies by 2014

Myanmar, the world's second-largest grower of opium after Afghanistan, has slashed its poppy cultivation by 60 per cent over the past four years, a semi-official publication said on Monday.

The Hindustran Times reports.

Hypothermia saves drunk 14-year old student's life...keeping her alive for one hell of a good detention

The Londonderry High School student was near death Friday when school officials discovered her drunk and unresponsive in the woods behind the gymnasium, Superintendent Nathan Greenberg confirmed last night.

Her blood alcohol content was .387, more than 19 times the legal limit for a minor in the state of New Hampshire. A blood alcohol content of .4 is considered lethal for 50 percent of the adult population.

When paramedics responded, the girl's body temperature was 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which doctors said helped slow the absorption of alcohol, Lisa Foose said.

Three of the students returned to the building, Greenberg said. The one who remained with Destiny unsuccessfully tried to send a text message to a friend before leaving to get help, he said.

"The only thing that saved her life is that they did leave her in the snow bank and her body was slowed down by the hypothermia," Foose said. "She would have died if it had been an August day or something."

Read more.